Machine knife adjustment and locking device



C. E. G. AFF

Feb. 16, 1937.

MACHINE KNIFE ADJUSTMENT AND LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 7 Filed May 31; 1935 Cmmz E5 5. 6. [WW

ATTORNEYS 'Feb. 16, 1937; Q E F 2,071,055

MACHINE KNIFE ADJUSTMENT AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Turf]- i 1 E.

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INVENTOR 0003x551? 6'. HM

Vm M +3 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED -S"l".l lT-E'S MACHINE KNIFE ADJUSTMENT AND LOCK- ING DEVICE Charles E. G. Aif, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application May 31, 1935, Serial No. 24,346

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machine knife adjustment and locking devices and has for a principal object the provision of means, partly within the knife body and partly in a separate cooperating .membergfor positively securing the knife to a member 'of the machine in which the knife is to be used.

- Afurther object of theinvention is the provision in a machine knife of a apluralityiof transverse oblong holes, each of said holes having communicating therewith a plurality .of semi-circular:slots and the provision of a boltingfmember for'each of said holes having projections fitting said slots,'the engagement of saidslots and projections serving to fixedly retain the knife on its support.

Another object of the invention 'is to provide a bolting member of shorter length than the oblong holes and :having fewer projections than the number of slots formed in the knife, whereby the projections may be made to engage several groups of slots in accordance with-the adjustment desired.

Still anotherobject of the invention is the provision of a bolting member having fewer pro-v jections than the number of slots and having a bolting shaft eccentric to the center axis of the member so that by reversing the position of the member in the hole .a finer degree of adjustment .of the knife may be obtained.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision in the clamping member of .a threaded hole eccentric to the center axis of the member and adapted to be engaged by a bolt extending through the machine member 'on which the knife is supported.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a machine knife and an extension therefor having a plurality of elongated holes, partly within the knife and partly within the extension, and a plurality .of circular slots in transverse relation to, and breaking into, the elongated holes some of the circular slots being in the knife and others in the extension, the extension beirng further provided with a projection which members up with the usual relief groove in the knife support; and the provision of a clamping member having projections fitting said semi-circular slots, some of the projections engaging semi-circular slots in the knife and others engaging semi-circular slots in the extension.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a knife and an extension bar therefor, the extension bar being provided with a projection engaging the relief slot of the knife sup- 5 port to retain the same in parallel relation to the face of "the knife "support and beingiprovided with a cut away portion serving to insure the support of the knife in parallel relation to the face of the knife support.

Other objects will .be obvious to those skilled 6 in the art.

.In machine knives, such as are used in sheet metal work, squaring shears, etc such knives being commonly known as shear blades, in the prior art it has been customary to secure such blades to the shear by means of bolts. The holes inthe supporting'member were made substantially larger in diameter than the diameter of the bolts so that a limited degree of adjustment can be obtained to compensate for theshortening of the blade due to grinding.

The present invention overcomes this limitation and makes it possible to extend the use 'of these blades whereby practically all of the cutting steel therein may be utilized.

This invention also enables the blade-maker to produce a reversible blade, thereby making-a plurality of cutting edges available in the shear,

Referring to the figures.

, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away, showing the new and improved blade .and two of the new and improved clamping holes formed therein;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 .taken along the lines 2-2;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the new and improved blade taken along the .lines 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a new and improved clamping member made in the form of a bolt;

Figure '5 is anisometric view of the new and improved clamping member made in the form of a nut and provided with a bolt;

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a knife similar to that shown in 'Figure .1, but provided with an extension bar so arranged that the clamping member engages and secures both the knife and the extension to a shear table;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary isometric view 'of a knife and extension such as shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of a portion'of a machine knife having slots formed therein toaccommodate a modified form of an improved clamping-device;

Figures 9, 10,'and 11 are fragmentary views of knives showing the modified clamping member in several different relative positions;

Figure 12 is an end view of the knife and clamp-' ing member shown in Figure 1 1; and

Figure 13 is :a transverse sectionalview showing a machine knife provided with the improved clamping member secured to a knife bar.

The shear blade l0, which may be provided with cutting edges H, l2, l3, and i4, is provided with a plurality of oblong holes and I5a, the number of which may vary in accordance with the length of the blade. These oblong holes are provided with flat side surfaces It and IT and semi-circular ends l8 and IS.

The surface of the blade, between the cutting faces II and i2, is undercut as shown at 20, and the opposite surface, between the cutting faces i3 and i4, is undercut as shown at 2 I.

At right angles to the straight sides of the slots l6 and IT, a plurality of slots 22 are cut in the surface 23 communicating with the slot l5 via the flat side 51. Likewise, a plurality of slots 23 are cut in the surface communicating with the slot [5 via the flat side It.

The slots 22 and 23 are cut with a circular cutter so that their bottoms are curvilinear, as shown in Figure 2.

A clamping member 24 has a body of a similar outline to that of the oblong hole l5, with the exception that its length is shorter than said hole. The member 2 3 forms a working fit in the hole l5 and due to the fact that it is shorter than the hole it may be positioned therein in any one of several positions.

The clamping member is provided with a plurality of projections 25 and 28, fewer in number than the number of slots 22 and 23 communicating with the hole 15. These projections are each of substantially the same outline and form as that of the slots 22 and 23 so that when the member 24 is positioned in the hole l5 or 15a the surface of the clamping member is preferably slightly below the undercut surface 2!], as indicated at 2? in Figure 2, when the blade is secured to the shear table.

The clamping member 24 functions as a nut. It is provided with a tapped hole 23 which is eccentric to the center axis of the member 24 so that the member may be turned around with the projections 26 engaging the slots 22 and the projections 25 engaging the slots 23 and thereby finer adjustments of the blade on the shear table may be obtained.

The eccentricity of the hole 29 is such that adjustments equal to one half of the spacing apart of the slots 22 and 23 may be obtained and the clearance between the hole 3| in the table 28 and the bolt 33 may be utilized for finer adjustments.

In another embodiment of the clamping memher, as shown in Figure 4, the member designated by the numeral 24a is provided with projections 25a and 26a and forms the head of a bolt 32 which may be inserted in the oblong holes l5 and by applying suitable hex-nuts the blade may be secured to the shear table 28.

Practically all of the shear tables are provided with clearance slots 33 which are usually spanned by the blade. When the width of a blade becomes so reduced, due to frequent grindings, that it no longer spans the clearance slot 33, it is then impossible to mount the blade in normal parallel relation to the table 28.

In some cases, in order to save expenses, some of the knife owners may purchase blades or shears having a single cutting edge and of shorter width than was originally designed for the machine.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 6, a shear blade 34 is shown having a cutting edge 35. This blade is provided with an extension bar 36.

The blade 34 has a bead 31 which matches a bead 38 formed in the extension bar 33. The extension bar is also provided with flat projecting tongues 39 which project from the surface thereof the depth of the clearance slots 33. A plurality of elongated holes Mi are formed partly in the blade 34 and partly in the extension bar 35. These elongated holes may be identical in form with the holes l5 described above.

The holes 4! have communicating therewith a plurality of slots which may be identical with the slots 22 and 23 above described.

When clamping members, such as 24 and 24a, are applied to the elongated holes 43, some of the projections engage slots in the knife 34 and others engage slots in the extension bar 36. By this arrangement the blade and the extension bar are both securely clamped to the shear table 28 and are rigidly held in proper relation to each other by the projections engaging the slots, and'the tongue 39 falls within the slots 33 and prevents the blade 34 from cocking.

The blade 34, shown in Figure 6, is of shorter width than blades such as the blade l0 and the provision of the extension bar or backing bar makes it possible to provide a shear with an inexpensive knife or blade capable of giving good results.

This invention also makes it possible to use two edged blades such as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and by providing in the surface 2| slots identical with the slots 22 and 23, except opposite thereto, four edged blades may be utilized.

It is obvious that two or four edged blades can be produced at less cost per cutting edge than a blade having only one cutting edge. In many existing shears the two or four edged blades cannot be used because of the positions of the bolt holes in the member supporting the blade and in many others, a very limited adjustment is possible because the machines were made to accommodate blades having only one cutting edge.

By providing a knife having slots communicating with the elongated holes and by providing a clamping member or nut having projections matching said slots practically unlimited and most minute adjustments of the blade may be obtained.

In the modification shown in Figure 8, a knife 42 is provided with an oblong depression 113 communicating with one face of the knife and the back edge 34 thereof. A plurality of curvilinear slots :5 formed in the face of the knife communicate with the depression 43 along one side thereof and a plurality of curvilinear slots 46 formed in the face of the knife communicate with the depression 43 along the other side thereof. A hole 411 extends through the webs 48 formed between the slots 45 and a similar hole 39 extends through the webs formed between the slots 45.

An insert member, generally designated by the numeral 3!, has an oblong body portion 52 which fits the depression and has a plurality of extensions 53 of similar form to, and adapted to form a fit with, the slots and a plurality of extensions 54 of similar form to, and adapted to form a fit with, the slots 46.

The extensions 53 have borings therein so positioned that when the insert member 52 is located in the depression 43 these borings line up with the hole 4?. The extensions 54 are likewise provided with borings which line up with the hole 49 when the insert member 52 is positioned in the depression 43. The .borings in the upper extensions 53a and 54a :are tapped with screw threads.

When the insert member 52 is positioned in the depression 43 :it is secured to vthe'knife 42 -.by means of pinsx55 and 56. The'pin 55 is provided With-a threaded portion 51 which is screwed into the extension 53a, and the pin 56 is provided with a threaded portion-58 which may be screwed into the extension 54a.

The insert member '52 has formed therein, at right angles to the fiat outer surface thereof, a tapped hole '59 by means of which the knife may be'secured to a knife bar 68 or-other supporting member by means .of cap screws, one of which is shown at 6| in Figure 13. I

While only one oblong depression 43 isshown in the drawings, it is obvious that a plurality of 'such depressions-and-a plurality of insert members '52 would be required for supporting such blades in a machine; When the width of the blade 42 has been shortened by frequent grindings its use may be extended by means of insert members 52. The insert members may be removed and reinserted with the extensions 53a and 54a projecting above the back edge #4 of the blade, as shown in Figure 10, in which case the portions of the insert member 52 extending above the back edge 44 would member up with the knife bar of a machine and act in place of an extension bar such as is shown in copending application 12,423, filed March 22nd, 1935', improvements in Machine knives. in place ofextension bars perfect adjustmentof the knife in the machine is possible because the adjustments in the pull rods which operate the bar cover'a range greater than the spaces from the upper edge of the member and the back edge 44 of the knife.

When the knife becomes still shorter by frequent grindings, the insert member 52 may be removed and reinserted in a further raised position such as is shown in Figure 11, and so on.

In Figure 12 an end view of a knife 42 is shown with the insert member 52 positioned the same height as the insert member shown in Figure 11.

The new and improved insert member 52, with its extensions 53 and 54, is, in effect, a tapped hole which may be adjustably applied to a machine knife. This overcomes the necessity of forming a blind tapped hole in machine knives and gives the added feature of an adjustable tapped hole which may be moved relative to the knife to compensate the wear.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 to 12, the insert or clamping member provides the equivalent of, so called, blind bolt holes in a knife, particularly those used in paper cutting machines. The knife is bolted to the knife bar of the machine without the bolt holes extending through the face or side of the knife which, in cutting certain classes of paper, overcomes the following objections:

If the holes extend through this face the edges of the paper being cut crowd into these holes and are marked or scored.

This also enables the upper part (that part which protrudes above the back edge of the knife, for instance) of the device to engage and hold an extension bar to the back edge of the knife thereby providing a backing to support the knife as it is lowered to compensate for the decreases in width caused by grinding.

This new and improved device also overcomes the difficulty heretofore encountered due to the By using these insert members.

back .edge of the knife :tilting into the relief groove :of the :knife :barwhen the bolts, which hold the knife to the knife bar, are tightened, and prevents 'the scoring of "other parts of the machine which are adjacent to the knife.

The invention contemplates :the formation of depressions =43 in the knife and :the formation of the slots and 4.6 thereinsas well as the holes Aland-A9, at the time .the knife is manufactured and :the insert members 52 may be applied to any blades as the old 'ones, with which they are associated, "become too worn "for further use.

Although simple embodiments of the invention areherein shown and:described,it is obvious that many variations of thedevice may be made without departing from the 'spirit'of the invention as defined in ?the :following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. .=Amach'ine knife :or blade having a plurality of oblong holesformed therein, means defining a plurality of slot depressions :in said knife communicating with each of said holes, and means for securing said knife to a machine, said last means including a nut member contained entirely within each of said holes and associated slot depressions and having projections engaging at least some of said slot depressions for retaining the nutmembers in definite fixed relation to said knife.

2. 'Ihe invention according to claim 1 in which the nut member is provided with a tapped hole eccentric to its center line so that it may be reversed to obtain finer adjustments than the spacing of the slot depressions.

3. In combination a support, a machine knife or blade having a series of oblong holes formed therein and a series of parallel slot depressions also" formed therein communicating with said holes, said slot depressions being disposed in angular relation to at least a portion of the walls defining said holes, clamping members positioned within said holes and having extensions interlocking with said depressions for retaining said blade in definite adjustment relation to said support, said members each having a tapped hole formed therein, and bolts extending through said support and engaging said tapped holes for securing the blade to said support through the medium of said clamping members.

4. A device for adjustably supporting machine knives or blades in a machine comprising an oblong member having a threaded hole formed therein and having a plurality of arms extending therefrom adapted to fit into and engage in interlocked relation a depression of similar shape formed into said blade, and a bolt engaging said threaded hole for securing the device and said blade to said machine.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which the tapped hole in the oblong member is nearer to one end thereof than to the other.

6. A device according to claim 4 in which the threaded hole is omitted and in which a shank extends from and is formed integral with said oblong member and is provided with a threaded end thereby forming a bolt having said oblong member for a head.

7. In combination a machine blade having fiat sides, a cutting face and a bead along the edge opposite said cutting face, an extension member having a bead matching said first bead and fiat sides parallel to the sides of said blade, a fiat tongue adjacent to said last bead and formed along a face of said extension member, an oblong hole formed partly within said blade and partly within said extension, a plurality of slotted depressions communicating with said hole, some of said depressions being formed in said blade and others in said extension member, an oblong clamping member positioned within said oblong hole and having extensions engaging some of the depressions in said blades and others in said extension member, thereby retaining the blade and the extension member in definite fixed relation to each other, and means engaging said clamping member for securing said knife and extension to a machine with said fiat projecting tongue engaging the usual clearance slot, with said tongue bottoming in said clearance slot to prevent the blade from cooking.

8. As an article of manufacture, a shear blade having a plurality of oblong holes formed therein, means defining a plurality of slot depressions, having Webs therebetween, in said knife communicating with said holes.

9. In a machine knife, means forming an oblong depression communicating with one face of said knife and the back edge thereof, means forming aplurality of curvilinear slots in the face of the knife communicating with said oblong depression along one side thereof and a like plurality of curvilinear slots in the face of the knife communicating with the depression along the other side thereof, an insert member having an oblong body portion and a plurality of extensions projecting from each side thereof and adapted to form a fit with the slots formed in said blade, the spaces between said extensions being equal to the web, between the slots in said knife, said member being of such thickness that when positioned in said depression with-the extensions in said slots its outer surface is flush with the face of the knife, a transverse tapped hole formed in said insert member, and means for securing said member in fixed relation to said knife, whereby the knife may be secured to a machine member by means of a bolt engaging said tapped hole.

10. The invention according to claim 9 in which the end extensions of said member are provided with tapped holes, in which the other extensions and webs between the slots in said knife, each have a continuous hole extending therethrough when the insert is positioned within the depressions, and in which the means for securing the insert member to the knife comprises a pair of dowels having threaded ends, whereby the dowels fit said continuous holes and the threaded portions engage the tapped holes in said nut extensions.

'11. The invention according to claim 9 in which the insert member may be positioned within said depression and secured to said knife with its end extensions and one or more of the other extensions projecting beyond the back edge of the knife for the purpose of extending the use of the knife after frequent regrindings.

12. A machine knife or blade having a plurality of oblong slots formed therein, slot depressions also formed therein communicating with said slots, said slot depressions being separated from each other by webs therebetween, means for securing said knife to said machine, said means including a nut member contained within each of said holes and associated slot depressions and having projections engaging at least some of said slot depressions, a series of aligned holes formed in said projections and in the webs between said slot depressions, and a stud mounted in each series of aligned holes for maintaining the nut members in definite fixed relation to said knife.

CHARLES E. G. AFF. 

